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The cherry tree in front of the girls ADU has beautiful translucent cherries that are so ripe they’re starting to fall off the tree. And the cherry tree in our back yard has almost fully ripe cherries. It’s a little early, isn’t it?n
It’s had to know for sure, because we don’t journal that sort of thing. n

I’ve written a knitting pattern for a Jeep cap, (Radar hat) and I should be able to publish it fairly soon. I’ve ordered a new camera and we’re hoping it clears up some of our issues. Lighting will always be a challenge in this house, though.n

My new PukiPuki is supposed to arrive on Saturday. This will allow me to expand the size of patterns I have available. The Amelia Thimble ones haven’t been as popular as I expected. Maybe it’s the type of clothing I’ve offered. I worked out a princess dress, the fit was spot on but it frays badly and the seams pop. There isn’t enough room for more seam allowance and I don’t like using fray check, but it may be the only solution. Anyway, that style may be what the consumer wants.n

I spent some time working on the Dodge, apparently there is Bondo on the floorboard, roughly finished and covered in the rubber coating that has bonded with the fragrance. I used a grinder with a 60 grit flap wheel on it and was able to take most of the rubber stuff off, smoothing the Bondo to boot. Then I neutralized some rust with Ospho. It causes any paint it touches to bubble off, as well. :/ Good thing I planned to paint most of the truck. Nothing fancy, just quirky. I hope to be able to get some cool dragons and fairies painted on there. It will drive the collectors nuts, as in mostly furious. My truck, my paint.n

—Sinéad

We’re still trying to remove the fragrance from the tree air freshener. But the good news is, it’s improving. I still can’t get in there, though. Here’s a brochure from ’69.

I ordered side mirrors and some conventional foam to get started on some of the work that needs to be done. We had to remove all of the foam from the seats, (full of fragrance) and we’ll replace the upholstery with pieced leather. I’m grateful for the free scraps acquired from Joey’s employment. They’ll be making this refit possible. The foam is going to really set us back, all on it’s own. Another project made possible by the hoarding tendencies of the clan. n

I miss working on my patterns for my shop, but I’ve been set back by photography issues again. I have several that just need photos for the instructions. According to the clan, photos make the instructions clearer than the drawings were. So, here we are.n

–Sinéad

We’re having a storewide sale in our Etsy shop!

Come by and help us celebrate!!!n

Catherine finally got the tubal ligation she’s wanted for years. It’s ridiculous that they place so many roadblocks in the way. We don’t have real freedom, it’s an illusion.n

We finally acquired a truck! It’s a 1969 Dodge. I’d like to strangle the fragrance people. We can’t get the air freshener smell out of it. The truck cab is almost gutted and the stench remains. It is strongest where the air freshener was hanging. We’re going to give alcohol a try, which means wiping everything down again. If that doesn’t work, maybe acetone? We can’t use anything that doesn’t evaporate completely and so far non toxic cleaning methods haven’t worked.n

Wish us luck.n
–Sinéad

It’s the time of year for Luau parties! I’ve made grass skirts and leis for the RealPukis and Ms. Thimble and I hope to get the pattern ready soon. n

Aggi found Liam’s little fire engine and had to take it for a spin. I tried to capture the lights flashing, but I didn’t have any luck. So, you’ll just have to imagine a siren and lights. It was cool!

I’m still plugging away at the pattern production process. I may need a break soon. 🙂 Ms. Thimble has a few more patterns listed now and at least one more ready to be assembled. I just realized one of the patterns I listed today would fit the RealPukies. I’ll have to add that tomorrow. It’s time to unwind a little, I think.n
–Sineadn

“Ms. Thimble, are you making dresses for everyone?”n

It’s the dance of joy for the making of new dresses and patterns!!n

The latest is for Amelia Thimblen

The RealPuki pajama pattern is the most popular. I’m still working on the Super Hero kit and many other patterns. I haven’t forgotten the Bolaidh Bláth, that project is just on hold for the time being. n

We’ve zeroed in on an area in Utah to explore for the purpose of relocating. That means another road trip. We’re looking for a truck and we’ll be traveling a little different this time. Our Nevada trip in the CRV was a little cramped and without bathroom facilities, I got really sick from the fragrance in the public restrooms. Here’s hoping for success!n
–Sinéad

It is indeed, feathered and sparkled. There’s a diary key and rose quartz stones too.

They’re wearing the latest pajama pattern, up cycled from my kids baby clothes.n
I’m going to need to upgrade the pattern I’ve listed to include the hoody options.n
I made the realization that part of the reason I went through so many incarnations in creating the pajama pattern was because the slightest difference in the weight of the fabric caused the fit to change. I should make a note of that in the upgrade.n

The patterns are selling. Still not at a rate that will keep me fed or anything, but it’s a start.n

The dog is much improved. She’s off the pain meds and showing no signs of discomfort. In truth, I think they were making her itch. Still have a week to go on the antibiotics. She doesn’t care for them, but what dog would?n

–Sinéad

Aggi, aka Beag, has a new friend, Piccolo. They look like quite the conspirators in their little nest. Maybe they’re making plans for feathering said nest? Sparkles would be nice.n

I’ve been busy with the dog this week. She developed pyometra and had to be spayed at the ripe age of 14. She is home and groggy.n

I made a simple pattern that I’ll be adding as an extra with the t-shirt patterns I have on Etsy. Here’s Picco modeling nothing but. –Sinéad

We got the patterns finished and listed on Etsy. And we have already sold two sets!!
I’m working on superhero pj’s and perfection of the basic pj pattern. It’s cute every time but not quite right. I think the kids are tired of looking at the different prototypes and being ask, “what do you think?”I finally have two dresses that I’m pleased with, so I’ll be doing something with that soon. There’s the hat pattern, as well. I have at least 6 designs for that.n

The wigs I should be making aren’t happening, probably because it involves a sewing machine. I need to get out my serger for some projects, too. :/n
I wish the machines were more easily accessed. I can always find more handwork to do. I even contemplated cutting out more clothes for myself and just sewing them up by hand. The machine may be faster per project, but if it takes two months to get round to setting up, which was really faster?n
–Sinéad

She’s almost finished. I have to curl the hair for her wig and attach it to the bald cap she’s wearing. I bought a PukiFee pattern for her pj’s and the fit is great. She still needs a name.

I’m removing the rest of the paint from my RealPuki, Aggi. Once the flaking started there wasn’t really any choice. I wish I had known he needed to be sealed. He’ll need to do his pattern modeling sans face paint until I can acquire proper supplies for a repaint. :(n

–Sinéad

A close up of some very real and very tiny flowers.n

The girls loved the flowers I picked from the yard today.n

The doll I’ve been working on has some skin and the arms are attached. We’re taking advantage of the magnets to get the hands to stay where they are. It’s all in fun.n
I like the way the face is looking and our proportions in comparison to the Pukifee are staying close. I tried glueing the skin to the face but had to abandon it when the glue seeped through. Some of the glue remained on and around the nose which made stitching the skin down challenging. Now we need legs, eyes and ears. Oh, and a bit of coloring. A name would be nice too.n
–Sinéad

These are the parts I’ve been felting using a traditional Waldorf style body beneath the face and body and a drawing of the original concept for proportions on the left. I went ahead and assembled the parts to see how they worked together. They will need to be disconnected for skin application and then reassembled.

I’ve put magnets in the head, back and hands so that I can add removable wings or horns and hold a variety of other objects as well as holding Aggi’s hand. Standing alone won’t be possible but there are a lot of other posing possibilities. I still haven’t decided how I want to attach the skin, but a decision will need to be made soon.n

Below are a few more RealPuki outfits. n
–Sinéadn

Aggi’s paint has peeled off his little lips slowing up the modeling portion of the pattern making. I also had to replace my pens and not just any old stinky pen will do.

I repainted Aggi’s lips and when I went to seal it, the sealant took the paint off. UGH!!! The sealant also gave me a migraine. Double UGH!!!n

But, I have gotten more patterns past the trial space, such as this hat.

I set Aggi’s world of patterns aside and started a new doll. I haven’t taken any pics but will soon. It’s soft sculpture and I’m doing some needle felting of the features and I’m not sure how I’m going to apply the skin, yet. I have several ideas but I’m not sure which I want to use.n

Time for errands.n
Sinéad

I’ve finished one set and it’s ready for publication, but I wanted to publish all three at once. I realized I needed more versions of the clothes for pattern pics and I’m trying to channel the inspiration for more designs without becoming unfocused from the current goal. Aggi (Beag) likes all of his clothes.n

Pattern creation is a lot more work than I remembered. Or maybe it’s the whole digital thing that’s frying my brain. I have a fencing jacket I created years ago where I spent hours drawing the pieces to get them free from ink blobs and mistakes, then I took them to a print shop where I had them scanned. Nothing went wrong when they were printed out. And I created an instruction document that I was told was very thorough.n

The RealPuki patterns are feeling like more work than that was. I’m doing three sets and I have the instruction illustrations done, the pattern pieces drawn and tested several times. The written instructions for one set is done. I need to do the other two and a photo shoot for the sets to sell them. It’s the frustration of getting my drawings onto the computer that’s doing me in. I hope it turns out that they’re really popular and they sell like the proverbial hotcakes!n